Democrats fear it will buoy Senate Republicans in particular, who mounted the legal challenge over First Amendment claims and often rely on larger donors, and say the latest rollback of campaign finance restrictions is an “invitation for corruption.”The Democratic National Committee and the party’s campaign arms for the House and Senate said the ruling will “eliminate a key safeguard against corruption in our elections.” In a joint statement, the committees condemned Republicans for a “clear and blatant effort to rewrite election rules for their own benefit and spend more money from billionaires to prop up their candidates.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said the high court, which made its determination along its ideological divide, gave “wealthy and big-money special interest groups the green light to buy elections.”“Today’s decision eviscerates one of the last fragile guardrails on coordinated political spending and will unleash a new arms race of campaign spending, bringing in even more special interest money to our elections,” Schumer said.In a ruling led by conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the Supreme Court said restrictions established in 1974 on coordinated campaign spending violated free speech. Prior caps from the Federal Election Commission on such coordination, valued at anywhere from $130,600 to $4,071,800 for Senate candidates and up to $65,300 for most House candidates, were designed as guardrails against corruption. Now, candidates and party fundraising arms can spend unlimited amounts in conjunction with one another, including for events, staff, and travel. In 2010, the Citizens United v. FEC decision allowed unlimited super PAC spending.The chairmen of the House and Senate GOP campaign arms said the court “restored core political speech and ensured parties can compete on a level playing field.”“A massive win for the First Amendment that gives power back to political parties over dark money Super PACs,” said Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH), who is reportedly angling to become the next chairman of the Senate GOP campaign arm. “Voters deserve to hear directly from candidates, not shady, nameless outside groups.”Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) arrives to speak with reporters on Thursday, June 18, 2026, outside the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
